My Hospital Bag Checklist
I’m planning to pack my bags this week for my upcoming delivery. Since this will be a scheduled c-section, knowing the length of my stay allows me to be intentional about what I bring, ensuring I have everything necessary for my recovery and comfort as well as for my husbands.
Since this is my second time around I’ve kept my packing list practical and am focusing on only the essentials for myself, my husband, and our baby. Read on below for a complete hospital bag checklist broken down by individual.
For Myself
Since this is my second time around, I’m focusing on items that will help with recovery and overall comfort during my hospital stay. I want to make sure I have everything I need to freshen up and feel like myself after birth, while not overpacking.
Health card, wallet
Comfortable nightgowns or robe
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, face wipes and wash, dry shampoo, lip balm, body oil)
Hair ties and a brush
Extended charging cables or portable charger
A cooler filled with snacks and fruit
Water bottle
A folder for any hospital paperwork
For My Husband
Alex will not need as much as I do, but having a few essentials will help them stay comfortable.
Wallet, credit cards, change
Change of clothes
Comfortable shoes
Pillow and blanket
Toiletries (toothbrush, deodorant, etc.)
Water bottle
Entertainment (kindle, tablet, headphones)
List of who to contact when baby is born
For the Baby
In Canada, hospitals do not provide newborn essentials, so we need to bring almost everything baby will need. This includes diapers and all diaper care products. This hospital bag checklist helps ensure we’re fully prepared as the last time around we honestly thought the hospital would provide all diapers for our stay. This time, I’ll be using oversized cotton pads and liniment, a French diaper care staple.
Going-home outfit
Infant car seat
Vaseline or Diaper Balm
Oversized cotton pads and liniment for diaper care
Packing ahead of time gives me peace of mind knowing that we’ll have everything we need when the time comes. With this hospital bag checklist, we can just grab the bags and focus on welcoming our baby into the world.
For the Hospital Staff
The last thing I like to pack is a gift for hospital staff. I did this when Georgia was born as a simple way to say thank you to the hospital and nursing staff and found that everyone was very appreciative. I created a gift basket filled with items such as sparkling water, hair ties, hand lotions and sanitizers, lip glosses, soft soaps, and more and prepared this as if I was filling the basket for 4 individuals.
After we made our way to our room and got comfortable, we quickly finished filling out a prewritten thank-you card that included our names and room number. We gave this to our nurse with a special thanks and asked that she take it to the nursing station located outside of our door so that everyone working could take an item or two to enjoy. Over the following days we had staff popping in to say thanks, congratulations, and to simply check-in on us. It was a wonderful experience and small way to give back! We of course also had a gift for our OB, and plan to do the same this time around.